Topics - Thomas Grey

Mdarthdaddy - Michael pointed out to me in an email recently that the Anakin (Secret Ceremony) figure has an original Saga card variation and a new yellow stripe on the left side card (darker blue).

Questions:

1. Why? - Are they doing this to get the early releases out to people that couldn't get them due to the shipping problems and bad cards the early 2003 figures were on?

- Are they just doing it to create some consistancy? Seems a bit late for the Anakin figure at least.

2. Are there other figures that have had the same card variation? I have heard there may be a Boba Fett on both types of card too. If so, which figures have you noticed beyond the mentioned Anakin?

3. Here we go again with the card changes. Almost a repeat of the first 16 (if in fact others have the same change) Saga figures with the inserts. I am not a fan of this. I wish these types of changes would be left alone and not done at all. It makes no sense and it drives variation/error collectors ape.

Let me know if anyone has found others. I actually was able to find both Anakin's on a fluke, so I can try scans for those if any are interested...

I have quite a few listed throughout the different vintage releases. I try and include the ones that have a specific serial number associated to them and the specific characters included. I'd be interested to know if anyone knows how many of these were sent out and their contents. I know a lot were very rare and only a handful of people retain the original packaging and know of their origin and contents. Just interested in these items because there has never been verifiable or proven documentation about the number that were released. Just to be more specific, I'm talking about catalogue mail order and not the mail away offers on the backs of cards.

I would also be interested in hearing about any that anyone actually has and how they came across them. I think these are real gems and those fortunate enough to have them should share them! I saw one at a collectibles shop here in Colorado and I have been eyeing it for a long time. I still don't know what they are willing to let it go for as the owner is never there and hasn't marked them yet. I see that white mailer box and I just feel so happy. I wish I had enough sense back in the day to have taken advantage of all the amazing and wonderful offers that Kenner and retailers offered then. But who knows that stuff at 7 years old?

The new Toynami Thundarr the Barbarian figures and I met up yesterday and I had to buy Ookla. Next to Chewie, he's the tops! These figures are really well done. The articulation and sculpts are beautiful and dead on likenesses too! For those of us that used to wake up and watch this classic Saturday cartoon (along with Tarzan, Spidey & Amazing Friends, The Herculoids...) we can again rejoice in our youth and relive those simpler times!

I shelled out about $15 for Ookla and seeing it was the only one I've seen anywhere, I feel very fortunate. It's a price to pay for nostalgia, but worth it to me!

I know that Vader has no real need to recall the droids he played with as a child and get all sentimental, but what's up with him or the Emperor not detecting Ben or Yoda's presence before the new hope can rise. He only has his senses when another Jedi is in the building?

Were they scouting for unaccounted Jedi the likes of Yoda and Ben?

Did the empire just feel they were gnats after they assumed control?

You'd think that Jedi Masters and ex-Jedi Council members would be pretty vital to hunt down and eliminate.

Does Vader actually practice a little Jedi art himself by letting the will and way of the force take it's course?

Just don't get that at all, or that Leia and Luke would be undetected by Vader or the Emperor.

Maybe they just thought they could turn Luke as Anakin was turned and that fate would play into their hands and come to them.

Seeing as I stooped collecting the vintage as a youngster and did not pick up the bug again until the Episode 1 era, I missed the Modern Power of the Force entirely until I started working my way back after the EP1 craze died down a bit. I am curious about how one used the COMMTech chips that came with the Modern POTF until they release the COMMTech chip reader with the EP1 figures? Was it a short enough wait that it did not matter, or was it something that frustrated collectors until it's release?

I have one of these from a Diamond Select exclusive offer and have not seen it acknowledged in any of the monthly guides. It's legit and forgotten I guess. Anyone else know anything about this figure and why it isn't getting any play?

I recently went to a small club in Boulder Colorado and saw the Anthrax 'Taking the Music Back' tour. They came with E Town Concrete and Lamb of God. Anthrax were great as to be expected and are still so energetic and intense live. John Bush has been a favorite since early Armored Saint and having seen Anthrax many times (1st was 'Spreading the Disease' tour), I am still amazed by their presence and talent.

With that said, I was also blown away by Lamb of God. Having never heard of them, they had me captivated and stunned during the entire set. I usually swear off unknown opening acts, but I could not ignore their brilliant musical abilities and overall innovative approach to metal. I went out immediately and bought both of their cds. Their debut, 'New American Gospel' is a breath of fresh air in the stale lungs of contemporary music. They are tight, complex and heavy as a ten ton hammer. It's an astounding effort for a first album.

"As The Palaces Burn' is about 10 times better than their first and that's saying a lot. It's heavier! It's faster and the guitar and drum parts are fluid and complex and just addicting. Since I bought 'Palaces', I haven't listened to anything else and each time it gets better and better!

If you are an old school thrash/death metal fan then you need to pick up some Lamb of God! They are Dream Theater without the Styx lead singer and much heavier. But equally as talentedand just plain harsh! I think of bands like old Max Sepultura, Kreator in their hey day, Dark Angel and even a little Slayer.

I promise you will not be disappointed! Some lead singers are hard to get past in order to enjoy the music. While Randy is gruff and barks out the vocals, he is apt for the music and not overbearing. The lyrics are also poiniant and extremely dark.

Hope you try them and enjoy them as much as I am. If you already like them, chime in and tell me your thoughts.

Mace did not wield a freaking lightsaber in EP1, so Hasbro just determined they'd go with a standard blue issue saber! The purple was not conceived or realized until AOTC fer Chrissakes!!! Damn lunatic on ebay is misinformed or really trying to pull a fast one on some innocent and gullible collector. Luckily he didn't get squat for it, but of all the just plain bad ebay scams, this is pretty amazing!

When I received my package all was there and in good order. Wai fulfilled his end and he has proven to me that he is worth trading with. While the wait was frustrating and this post caused some concern, he completed the trade as promised. No matter what has been done in the past, he has begun to re-establish himself as a 'Good Trader'. His offer to send first is a statement that he intends to reclaim his good name and I think he has done that here.

Jedikatarn is my ambassador of swap. He was very pleasant to work a trade out with, communicated well, sent things in a timely manner and they arrived packaged professionally and in the condition promised. I highly recommend trading with John and hope to do it again in the future. Thanks John, you really make trading worth it!

Hasbro is beginning to make me think it's grooved. Aside from the 'error' Sentry figure, they have grooved the bolts on the Silver TRU figure and now the Droid Factory Flight figure too! They are getting lazy and not destroying old sculpts, or they are trying to convince us that the error is the Smooth bolt version. I am getting a little po'd here. Get it right Hasbro and call me when I can get some consistency with different figure releases of the same character!

There is an error with a photo of the Han Solo coin. They both say, 'Bespin Han Solo' but on some of the the .00 versions an image of the Hoth Snowtrooper coin appears.

Han Solo was packaged with a Hoth Snowtrooper Coin in some cases.

The .00 version all have 'Millennium Minted Coin' text behind the coin and all other variations have no text.

My questions and requests...

If anyone has one or more of these, I would love to see an image of the box back to clarify some things.

What version (.00 or .01) did the Han figure come with the snowtrooper coin?

Guess that's it. Any help is appreciated...

What figures do you know that come with the Han Solo text below the Snowtrooper coin image error? I know that the .00 version of C-3PO, Palpatine, Luke & Leia have this error. Do Han Solo, Chewbacca and Snowtrooper have it too?